When collecting your car
1. Younger/Older Driver Surcharges
Most of the providers don’t charge an additional fee for being over 70. However, some car rental providers will set minimum and maximum age limits, usually around 25 – 75. If the main driver or any additional drivers are aged outside this bracket, then it’s likely you will be charged locally. Different countries have different rules. Restrictions also vary from company to company.
How to avoid: When getting a quote, enter your age accurately. Some car hire companies will levy a surcharge, some will require you to buy their insurance. Make sure you read the rental conditions thoroughly!
2. Out of Hours/Delivery Fee
These fees cover any costs incurred by the provider in getting your hire car to you. You may incur a charge for collection or return outside of normal operating hours. Want your car delivered to your hotel? A locally payable charge may be applied for this too.
How to avoid: Different car rental providers have differing operating hours. Check each available company and see which option best fits your required dates and times.
Not every local company charge for delivery either, just check the rental conditions first. If they have a local office, you could collect from there!
3. One-Way Charges
This fee is levied when you arrange to pick up your hire car from one location but drop it off at another. The charge covers getting the hire car back to its original location.
How to avoid: In most cases, a one-way fee is somewhat unavoidable. The best thing to do is compare different car hire companies and make sure you are getting the best deal.
4. Extra Equipment
You can reserve certain items during the booking of your rental car which will be billed locally upon collection.
• Baby/child/booster seats – you will have to fit these yourself.
• GPS/sat nav system.
• Ski/roof rack.
• Snow chains/winter tires. Mandatory in certain countries at certain times of year. They may even be included for free sometimes.
How to avoid: We always advise that you take your own baby/child/booster seats. You can usually pop these in the hold when flying.
Instead, use a navigation app with a phone dock for directions. Or simply bring your own map or Sat Nav! The use of winter tires may be unavoidable if mandatory and not already included. Reserve them when making your booking and pay locally.
5. Additional Drivers
The person named as the main driver will be responsible for the vehicle throughout your hire period. Some of the bookings include a free additional driver, you may incur a local charge for certain car rental providers.
How to avoid: Check all the available companies and find the best value deal if you can’t find any suitable quotes that include a free additional driver.
6. Cross Border Rental
Insurance restrictions (or even law) may limit which countries you are allowed to take the car into. Some may charge a locally payable fee to cover these. Always make the car hire company aware of your intention to cross a border in advance to avoid heavy penalties!
How to avoid: Check all available companies as not all providers charge you for crossing a border.
7. Toll Road Charges/Transponder/Vignette
Electronic Tolls will detect a Toll Transponder if there’s one placed in your vehicle (collectable from the hire counter, payable locally). A Vignette is slightly different, but usually compulsory. If that is impossible, then have a transponder and load on some credit when you collect the car.
8. Car Rental Insurance
If you haven’t bought appropriate insurance upon booking, you can usually buy insurance from the car rental company upon collection.
9. Deposit
Upon collection, you must have a credit card in the name of the main driver to enable a security deposit to be authorized. The amount of this deposit is influenced by several factors: car group, rental duration, and fuel costs.
How to avoid: This is pretty much unavoidable. If the deposit is debited, be mindful that there may be currency fluctuations, leaving you out of pocket.
When dropping off
11. Fuel
If you have not adhered to the hire company’s fuel policy, you will be charged for fuel at inflated local rates and potentially a refueling fee.
How to avoid: Follow the fuel policy and you will be fine. If you have a collect full, return full fuel policy, ensure that you have returned the car completely full of fuel. Keep any fuel receipts and take a picture of the fuel gauge.
12. Additional Mileage
Check whether your vehicle comes with unlimited mileage. If it doesn’t, make sure you know how many kilometers you are allowed to travel each day and what the cost per mile/kilometer is if you exceed this.
Some companies charge you extra for unlimited mileage, but automatically add it to your quote. Check if you are being charged for something you don’t need.
How to avoid: We always include unlimited mileage (subject to fair usage) in our prices. Not everyone does though, so check the terms so you don’t get caught out.
13. Administration Fees
These cover costs for dealing with things such as damage, repairs, cleaning fees or handling of traffic violations.
How to avoid: Bring the car back clean and know your speed limits!
If in doubt about the real car rental costs on your booking
Make sure that when making your booking, you understand what fees are being levied. Always be prepared for what you must pay for when you collect the car.
First and foremost, read the T&Cs carefully when making your booking. If in doubt, get in touch and we can advise you on the best available option for your situation!
Book your next Cyprus car rental today
Are you looking for a car hire service on your visit to Cyprus? Get in touch with Z&X Cars today! We are happy to help find you the perfect car for your trip.
Contact us for your personalized quote
Source: Zest Car Rental (no copyright intended). All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner (s).
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Contact Details
Our customer service team will be very happy to answer any questions you have about Car Rentals Cyprus therefore please do not hesitate to get in touch by phone, email or post.
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Address: Shop 1, Central Park Residences, 6 April 1st Street 8011, Paphos Cyprus
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Support Phone: +357 26 945222
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E mails: carhire@zandxgroup.com
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Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8AM – 5PM